July 24th – 25th 2015

Once again the Newton Lake Ski Club has secured the site for the Eastern Regional Barefoot Championships. Prompton Dam located at Prompton State Park has been the Site of the Eastern Regional Barefoot Championships for the past 4 years. Prompton Dam provides IDEAL conditions for a Record Capable Barefoot Tournament.

The Prompton State Park is a 1500 acre tract of land shared by the Pa. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers. It contains a 280-acre lake. The entire park is available to the public for various activities that include: hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, back country skiing, paddling, fishing, hunting, geo-caching, and disc golf. We invite you to visit the park and enjoy the area.

Pre-Registration before July 8th for the tournament is $125. Late Fee after July July 8th is $25 The fee includes skiing, t-shirt, Friday BBQ and Saturday banquet at the hotel.

Friday after skiing we will be hosting a BBQ at the site. BBQ tickets for non-skiers are $. The fee for Saturday banquet tickets for non-skiers is $50. The banquet will be an array of carving stations and a cash bar.

Once again this year all skiers will receive a tee shirt. Tournament sponsors will be printed on the shirts. Sponsorship are $100. Skiers are encouraged to help with the solicitation of sponsors. Names of the sponsors should be sent to johngmartines@gmail.com prior to June 18 to have them printed on the shirts.

Don Stoppe hosted the second annual NH Barefoot Bonanza on July 12th 2014.

The New Hampshire Barefoot Bonanza ski tournament hosted by Don and Arleen Stoppe, was a huge success this year. It was a beautiful day on the Pemigewasset River in Franklin, New Hampshire. 26 registered skiers from age 8 to age 71 and as far away as California and England turned out to challenge themselves, give bystanders a show, and enjoy a beautiful sunny day!

Following a week of barefooting at a clinic lead by world record holder and New Hampshire native, Keith St. Onge, The New Hampshire Barefoot Bonanza began with Keith completing his pass on the river (Check out Keith’s interview with New Hampshire Chronicle which showcases Keith’s many skills as well as many other New England

skiers). The water on the Pemi was calm and it was a beautiful sunny day on the river with the green trees and mountains of New Hampshire in the background. A perfect day for skiing! The day was filled with volleyball, barbeque, swimming, socializing with friends new and old, and of course a lot of skiing!

Judges Joe Malenfant and Lorraine Buri Piskura had a fun yet challenging day of judging many classes including Boys, Men’s, Pro-Men’s and Women’s.

Highlights of the day included seeing the next generation of skiers show their stuff. Max Brzoza, age 13, Kyle Sousa age 8, Michael Sousa III age 10 and Emma Sylvester age 20 completed their trick runs with Kyle working the crowd with a smile and a wave. The day wouldn’t have been complete without more experienced skiers showing their stuff including Judy Myers, 2013 US Nationals Womens 7 – 2nd overall and now competing women’s 8 eldest competing womens barefooter!

The day concluded with awards presentation where participants received recognition for their exciting day of skiing! We would like to give special thanks to Don and Arleen Stoppe, Keith St. Onge, Joe Mellinfont, Loriane Buri Piskura, Leonard Tremblay, the Krauz family, and of course all of the skiers and supporters who came out for the day!

Please read this whole post. Jen and I saw Amber last night. She was in great spirits, her usual Amber mode. She was sitting up and giving orders to everyone. She has a brace around her neck like a high collar to hold her neck steady while the bones heal, and a soft cast where they rebuilt her right elbow. She liked the cards Jenny made for her.
The prognosis has not changed much from Sunday. She has no motor control from chest down. She has movement in the shoulders but not in the arms and hands. Some of the swelling is down and she can actually lift her left arm with the shoulder muscles, which is faster than the doctors expected. This is all good. The doctors are hopeful that she can eventual get some motion back in her hands. The doctors are not optimistic about anything else. But Amber is a dedicated fighter. If work and perseverance can help bring her back, then Amber’s the one that can get it done.
The plan right now is that she will stay in UW Hospital until Monday. Then she will be going to Rehab Institute of Chicago. That assumes her recovery stays on track until Monday.

Now the Call to action! I have three requests of everyone:

1. Keep praying. Please keep Amber in your thoughts and prayers and stay optimistic for her.
2. The Amber Rangel Fund has been started. Amber is going to have a long hard road back. Long, hard, and COSTLY. We can help put our prayers into actions by giving to the Amber Rangel Fund. 100% of the money given will go directly to Amber and her family to help with the many expenses now and that are ahead of them. Please send checks to The Amber Rangel Fund, c/o Bank First, PO Box 10, Manitowoc, WI, 54221-0010. Thanks to Mike Molepski for setting up this account.
3. Share, Share, Share. Many people that know Amber are not on my facebook. The more we share this information, the more people find how they can help, and the more help we can give to Amber and her family. Share, Share, SHARE.

2014 Eastern Regional Barefoot Championships

Once again the Newton Lake Ski Club has secured the site for the Eastern Regional Barefoot Championships. Prompton Dam located at Prompton State Park has been the Site of the Eastern Regional Barefoot Championships for the past 3 years. Prompton Dam provides IDEAL conditions for a Record Capable Barefoot Tournament.

The Prompton State Park is a 1500 acre tract of land shared by the Pa. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers. It contains a 280-acre lake. The entire park is available to the public for various activities that include: hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, back country skiing, paddling, fishing, hunting, geo-caching, and disc golf. We invite you to visit the park and enjoy the area.

Host Hotel: Sheraton Four Points Hotel, 300 Meadow Ave, Scranton PA. 18505. A block of rooms have been reserved under “barefoot tournament” at a rate of $109 per night. Please contact the hotel AFTER May 1 but prior to June 18 to confirm your room reservation. 570 344 9811

Pre-Registration before July 8th for the tournament is $125. Late Fee after July July 8th is $25 The fee includes skiing, t-shirt, Friday BBQ and Saturday banquet at the hotel.

Friday after skiing we will be hosting a BBQ at the site. BBQ tickets for non-skiers are $25. The fee for Saturday banquet tickets for non-skiers is $50. The banquet will be an array of carving stations and a cash bar.

Once again this year all skiers will receive a tee shirt. Tournament sponsors will be printed on the shirts. Sponsorship are $100. Skiers are encouraged to help with the solicitation of sponsors. Names of the sponsors should be sent to johngmartines@gmail.com prior to June 18 to have them printed on the shirts.

U.S. Barefoot Teams, Athletes Earn Medals
At Barefoot Water Ski World Championships

Biennial event took place March 11-16 in Mulwala, Australia
POLK CITY, Fla. – The U.S. Elite and Junior Barefoot Water Ski Teams each earned overall team bronze medals, the U.S. Senior Barefoot Water Ski Team earned the overall team silver medal, and nine U.S. athletes combined to earn 19 individual medals in respective divisions and events at the 2014 Barefoot Water Ski World Championships, March 11-16, at Max Kirwan Lakes in Mulwala, Australia. For the fifth consecutive time, the biennial Elite (Open) Barefoot Water Ski World Championships was held simultaneously with the biennial Junior and Senior Barefoot Water Ski World Championships. The six-day event featured more than 130 athletes from 12 countries. The Elite Barefoot Worlds took place for the 19th time, while the Junior Barefoot Worlds was held for the 11th time and the Senior Barefoot Worlds commenced for the ninth time.

Athletes competed for medals in slalom, tricks, jumping and overall, in addition to the coveted team titles. The wake slalom event consisted of athletes crossing the boat wake as many times as possible in two 15-second passes. Tricks competitors performed as many tricks as possible in two 15-second passes. Jumpers, who were each allowed three attempts, went for distance while leaping off an 18-inch ramp.

The U.S. Elite Barefoot Water Ski Team earned the bronze medal, tallying 6,697.24 points in the 12-team field. Australia won the gold medal, scoring 8,262.70 points, and New Zealand earned the silver medal, scoring 7,104.83 points.

Lauren St. Onge (Winter Haven, Fla.) served as team manager for the Elite, Junior and Senior teams. Gary “Swampy” Bouchard (Winter Haven, Fla.) served as the coach of the Junior team. Lee Stone (Spicewood, Texas) served as coach of the U.S. Elite team. Scott Jones (Monona, Wis.) served as the coach of the Senior team.

For complete results, visit http://www.USAWATERSKI.org.
USA Water Ski was formed in 1939 as a non-profit organization promoting water skiing in the United States. USA Water Ski is affiliated with the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (world governing body) and is recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and Pan-American Sports Organization as the national governing body of organized water skiing in the United States.

NOTE TO MEDIA: This press release, as well as other water-skiing information, is available
on our Web site, http://www.USAWATERSKI.org. 2014 USA Water Ski. All Rights Reserved.